Laundry fluid distribution system



March 16, 1954 B. E. MUSTEE LAUNDRY FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FiledSept. 10, 1952 l|||ll|. lllllllllllll INVENTOR. BERNARD E. MUSTEE BY MPatented Mar. 16, 1954 2,672,152 LAUNDRY FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMBernard E. Mustee, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to E. L. Mustee Ohio &Sons, Ine.,.a corporation of Application September 10, 1952, Serial No.308,893 3 Claims. (01. 137-207) The invention relates to laundryequipment in general and relates more specifically to a distributiondevice and plumbing construction within a cabinet type laundry tub.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved plumbinginstallation both in service and appearance, but costing less formaterials and installation than conventional plumbing.

Another object of this invention is to conceal substantially the entirelaundry room plumbing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a universal distributiondevice as the basic unit of the plumbing system and thereby reducefittings, pipe, and a number of associated parts needed for inventory.

Another object of this invention is to use one air cushion for both aservice outlet and a tub supply outlet in a laundry.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view from the rear of a modern laundry tub unit with thedistribution system of this invention installed therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the distribution device installed on asheet wall, not necessarily the tub cabinet of Figure 1, but as suchinstallation does appear;

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In Figure l of the drawing there is illustrated a laundry tub I of atype which has recently been made available on the open market. Thelaundry tub I0 is not alone the subject matter of this invention, butillustrates the type of modern laundry tub device with which the presentinvention may best be employed. The laundry tub l0 com prises generallya basin portion l I with a cabinet l2 to surround and support the basinI l. The cabinet I2 is preferably made with an open back 13 for economyand good ventilation to prevent the accumulation of excessive humidity.

Located rearwardly of the basin I and within the confines of the cabineti2 is a fluid distribution device which embodies the features of thisinvention. The distribution device illustrated is the preferred typemade of a brass or bronze casting for simplicity and neatness ofappearance, but it is to be understood that a fabricated and machineddistribution device can be created which embodies the essential featuresof this invention.

The fluid distribution device comprises a first distribution chambermeans I6 and a second distribution chamber means I! with a web spacermeans It holding the first and second distribu-- tion chamber means afixed distance apart with respect to one another. In a cast structurethe web I8 is an integral part of the two distribution chamber means,but in a fabricated structure a much more simple stem could be provided.The web 18 serves as a temporary function in one sense inasmuch as thefiuid distribution device is held rigidly fixed with respect to thecabinet 12 by other means after installation, but actually the webserves the further purpose of preventing the rotation of the fittingswhen using sill cocks.

Both the first and second distribution chamber means are substantiallyidentical, and accordingly only one of the actual chamber devices needbe fully described for an understanding of the entire fluid distributiondevice. Accordingly, reference hereafter will be made mainly to thefirst distribution chamber means [6, unless specific reference is madeto the distribution chamber means I 'l.

Each distribution chamber means has a supply entrance 20 adapted toreceive a fluid supply line 2|. In the particular location of the fluiddistribution device, as illustrated in Figure 1, the line trance 20 andthe supply line 2| may be threaded for a threadable fit, or may besoldered together as commonly done with copper alloy plumbing fixtures.

One of the desirable features provided by the present invention is theconvenient location of the service distribution valves 22 on the side ofthe cabinet, and thus eliminating the need for unsightly and expensiveplumbing mounted on the wall behind a washing machine adjacent to thelaundry tub Iii. It was common practice prior to this invention toextend the supply lines serving a laundry tub over to a location nearthe washing machine, particularly in the event that the washing machinewas a modern automatic machine, and it was also common practice prior tothis invention to attach air traps to the extended lines somewhere nearthe distribution valves at the end thereof in order to prevent atroublesome water hammer. With the device I5 of this invention locatedwithin the cabinet l2, the service distribution valves, or sill cocks,22 are conveniently located upon the cabinet l2 and are handy forattachment of hoses thereto, but nothing is visible other than thevalves themselves. N o exterior plumbing is visible.

Openings 23 may be drilled, if needed, or may 2| is a hot water supplyline. The supply enbe originally provided in the side of the cabinet l2.The fluid distribution device 15 has a service distribution entrance 24to receive the nipple of a distribution valve. The distribution device Iis held inside the cabinet l2 and the valve 22 inserted through theopening 23 and into the entrance 24. A watertight connection is made inthe usual manner by a threaded engagement or sweated solder. The valve22 will generally have a flange 25 thereon to cover over the opening 23and provide a neat appearance on. the outside of the cabinet [2, andgenerally there will be provided a threaded portion on the valve 22 inorder to receive a threaded nut 26v which may be tight against theinside of the cabinet [2 around the opening 23 to hold the valve 22firmly in place. After the valves 22 have been engaged to thedistribution device, the web 18 will no longer be required, althoughgenerally may be left in place. Therefore, the pair of chamber means 16and H, regardless of whether or not the web is is permanently engaged,is considered to be a unitary device.

A faucet valve 33, which is usually of the mixer type, is mounted inposition to supply water to the basin H. The distribution chamber meansis provided with an outlet supply entrance to receive an interconnectingpipe extended from the faucet valve 33 to the entrance 34. Any number ofadditional distribution lines may be installed in the chamber means, butas thus far described, there is a service distribution valve and thefaucet valve operating from the chamber.

At least one opening into the chamber should be at the lowermost part ofthe chamber in order to provide for drainage of the system for winterprotection. In the illustrated embodiment, this feature is accomplishedby having the openings 20 and 2d in such bottom location. Then the sillcocks and the faucet valve 33 may be opened after the main supply isshut on, and the system will drain dry.

Operation of any water valve, and particularly the rapid opening andclosing of valves within an automatic washing machine, causes such arapid stoppage of water flow that a shattering or" the water lines oitenresults in what is generally referred to as a water hammer action. Inorder to. prevent such water hammer action and yet avoid the use or"-unsightly air traps mounted on the wall of the laundry room, an airchamber trap entrance 35 is provided into the chamber means it and airchamber trap attached thereto. In the illustration as set forth in thedrawing, the trap 36 comprises a length of pi c with a cap thereon. Moreelaborate devices are conceivable, such: for example as an intricatelycast bulb on the chamber. Furthermore, the entrance S5 is illustrated atthe top of the chamber means is but. could be provided at the sidethereof as long as the actual air trap portion is above the cham bermeansin order to "seep a pocket of air permanently trapped to act as acushion. An added feature of this invention. is the provision of axialalignment of the. service line from the main water supply and theservice distribution entrance Zi for the sill cock. The opening 2 andthe opening 2d are made identical in siz in order that either entranceit or 2% may serve as the other entrance. In other words, as illustratedin Figure l of the drawing, a service line opening 39 is provided in theside of the cabinet l2 opposite from the opening 23. There is alsoprovided an openingv 3% for the second supply line. The.- fluiddistribution device It may therefore turned.

a fluid distribution r in the details be mounted adjacent opening 23 oradjacent opening 38 according to whichever side the sill cock should bemounted on. As illustrated in Figure 1, the line 2! previously referredto and a cold water line 32 enter through the openings 89 and 31 andextend across the back of the cabinet into the distribution device l5,which is mounted on the left side of the cabinet when viewed from therear as in Figure 1. In another installation, the water lines 2| and 32may not enter through the openings 38 and 3! but may have to come downfrom the ceiling or up from the floor, in which event an elbow would beplaced atv a suitable location to bring the supply pipes into thedistribution device.

In still another instance, the distribution device may be required to bemounted on the righthand side of the cabinet l2 when viewed from therear as in Figure l, in which event the sill cool; 2?; would be engagedinto the opening 29 and the service line 25 would be engaged into theentrance By making the entrances it and in alignment, only one fluidcistribution device must be made and supplied with a laundry tub unitwithout concern about which side the consumer desires to have the sillcocks. Those experienced with industrial supplies will immediatelyunderstand the extreme advantage in carrying a single ventory.

Alt ough the invention has been described in ed form with a certaindegree of parrity, it is understood that the present dis is of thepreferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerouschanges of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Alaundry device comprising, a tub unit having a water basin portionand a housing cabinet, device mounted within said cabinet, said fluiddistribution device comprising a first and second distribution chambermeans, spacer means holding said first and second distribution chambermeans at a flared distance apart, each distribution chamber means havinga supply entrance adapted to receive a fluid supply line and having aservice distribution outlet to which an outlet may be attached, anopening through the wall of said cabinet aligned with saidservicedistribution outlet of the chamber means, a service distribution valvesecured to said cabinet and attached to said service distribution outletof the chamber means, tub is: cet means mounted on said laundry device,said chamber means having an outlet supply entrance, and fluid linemeans within said cabinet interconnecting. said outlet supply entranceand said faucet means.

2. A laundry device comprising, a tub unit having a water basin portionand a housing cabinet, fluid distribution device mounted within saidcabinet, said fluid distribution device comprising a first and seconddistribution chamber means, a spacer means holding said first and seconddistribution chamber means at a fixed distance apart, each distributionchamber means having a supply entrance adapted to receive a fluid supplyline, a service distribution outlet at the lowermost point of thedistribution chamber, an opening through the wall of said cabinetaligned with said service distribution outlet of the chamber means, saidservice distribution outlet secured to said cabinet and attached to saidservice distribution outlet of the chamber means, tub faucet meansmounted on said laundry device, said chamber means having an outletsupply entrance, fluid line means within said cabinet interconnectingsaid outlet supply entrance and said faucet means, and an air chambertrap extending upwardly from said chamber means.

3. A laundry device comprising, a tub unit having a water basin portionand a housing cabinet, a fluid distribution device mounted within saidcabinet, said fluid distribution device comprising a first and seconddistribution chamber means, spacer means holding said first and seconddistribution chamber means at a fixed distance apart, each distributionchamber means having a supply entrance adapted to receive a fluid supplyline and having a service distribution outlet to which an outlet linemay be attached, an opening through the Wall of said cabinet alignedwith said service distribution outlet of the chamber means, a servicedistribution valve secured to said cabinet and attached to said servicedistribu tion outlet of the chamber means, a supply line opening througha second side wall of said cabinet opposite from and aligned with saidopening for the service distribution valve, a supply line from saidsupply entrance of the chamber means through said supply line opening,tub faucet means mounted on said laundry device, said chamber meanshaving an outlet supply entrance, and fluid line means within saidcabinet interconnecting said outlet supply entrance and said faucetmeans.

BERNARD E. MUSTEE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,261,298 Rutz et al. Apr. 2, 1918 1,673,824 Hoeschen June 19,1928

